Rescue squad practices in confined space
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LAKE PLACID -- It was just three years ago and about three blocks away at a former Georgia Pacific plant that a 300,000 gallon water tank burst, collapsing a building and killing two workers.
So Training Supervisor Charles Andrews takes this exercise seriously.
"The scenario today is that we've got a worker inside who was cleaning the tank, and for whatever reason, he became unconscious," said Anderson, who trains firefighters every day for Highlands County, and on Saturday led the confined space rescue team to The Andersons, which makes agricultural fertilizer.
Rescuers had to gear up in oxygen masks; open a round portal in the side of the tank; test for the presence of breathable oxygen, CO2 and hydrogen sulfide; crawl inside, and remove an exercise dummy strapped to a stretcher.
Because of the confined space, two oxygen bottles were on a cart, so team members had to share the self-contained breathing apparatus.
Operations Supervisor Ken Bruce said The Andersons actually did clean a standpipe and lent the space to the rescue team. "We like to work with our local firefighters because they put themselves at risk helping all of us."
There are no dangerous chemicals or explosives at The Andersons location on S.R. 70 near U.S. 27, but acids are stored in the several-stories tall pipes, and it's possible that a worker could be inside be overcome or simply have a heart condition, Bruce said.
The confined space team included members of the Lake Placid, Leisure Lakes, West Sebring and Sebring fire departments, as well as county's Emergency Medical Services and the Emergency Operations Center.
Team members are required to train, but Andrews hoped Saturday's confined space training would also be a chance to increase membership on the team. On Sunday, the team members were to practice a trench rescue, and they are also trained to rescue from collapsed buildings, high-angle rappel and rope rescue, and machinery rescue.
gpinnell@highlandstoday.com
863-386-5828
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